New hostel brings excitement!
When I visited Lenana in January, I went specifically to see what Hanne and Ted meant by ‘Hostel’…I was curious to see where the orphans return to during their school holidays? I had heard that ‘home’ was Mother Mary’s hostel on other side of the slum. But I wondered about the conditions…
Well, this picture says it all. I was very saddened to see a crampy, damp and dark place where single cots have to be shared, and the kids sleep on worn out mattresses and musty blankets.
And so what great luck was brought upon us when space within our perimeters came available to create a brand new Hostel!! While I was visiting, Hanne and I ordered new iron beds, mattresses, blankets, pink sheets for the girls and blue for the boys! We even planned a walk-in closet of sorts to put their few personal belongings. Hane put art on the walls, had pillows made of Maasai blankets and bought a few chairs for the kids to sit around and chat in a common area - a must for our growing adolescents. I thought to myself, what an incredible lifestyle change this is going to be for these young kids! And now Mama Mary, who is running the hostel, can officially call herself ‘Innkeeper’!
Unfortunately, my visit ended before the children returned to the project compound for their holidays. Oh, how I wish to have been there to see their faces when they arrived. I cannot wait to go back next year and see the bright, proud faces. Congratulations on the great work, Hanne and Ted!
26 young orphans have a ‘chic’ new home!
January 2008: We had just moved from a nearby church building into a few rooms in this compound, our third move in as many years. Putting a few tons of fill in the yard and raising concrete floors in this row of shacks (on a swamp) was just the beginning. This past week we added another 7 tons of rock to fill a few more low spots in the compound. We knew we had a lot of work to do, particularly before the rains came!
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April 2009: We now occupy the whole compound on a multi year lease and we’ve spruced it up! Our hostel is now ‘home’ to 26 of our kids. A huge improvement and they love it!
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Five rooms have been opened to create a dorm for the girls and a dorm for the boys separated by a common room they share for reading, studying, computing and socializing.
Cleaned, scrubbed and painted with new bunk beds and bedding - pink for the girls and blue for the boys! A closet built over the outside sidewalk on each side for day clothes and a small metal trunk for each child gives them space for other personal belongings. The new concrete sidewalk along the length of the compound keeps the water and mud out.
What began as a canvas tarp over poles next to the kitchen to keep the kids out of the weather is now a simple tin and pole structure (pictured below) with a concrete floor. This shelter doubles as the dining room and as a meeting place and activity centre. Getting meals organized and served and running daily activities has become much easier for all of us in this new space.
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Current Events Discussion Group
A number of very serious challenges confront Kenyans: critical food and water shortages; high youth unemployment, crime, poverty, disease, systemic corruption and a dysfunctional coalition government —just to name a few. It’s important for our youth to be aware of these issues. We do that through a current events discussion group. Each participant reviews an assigned article from the daily paper which is then discussed by the group. Critical thinking and analysis is encouraged. The kids really enjoy these sessions—they add to their knowledge and understanding of the world around them, build their self confidence and improve their language and speaking skills as they debate and express their opinions on these important issues. I have really enjoyed these sessions and they will continue weekly throughout the year.
Lights, Action, Computers!
We are excited to announce that we have recently installed power in the compound for the first time ever!
The kids now have lights for studying when darkness arrives in the slum as well as power to run our 2 laptops.
This past month, several of our high school youth have been learning to keyboard under the watchful eye of Patrick, our volunteer computer teacher. The computers are in hot demand and often we see small groups of youth huddled around one laptop in utter amazement! We are looking for more laptops, so if you would like to donate some of your old stock, please let us know.
Surprise family reunion at the Thomas Barnardo Orphanage!
The 8-year old twin brothers, Tony and Bonni were overdue for a visit with their 3 teenage siblings, and this visit would be a surprise!!
Alice, Mercy and Kennedy hadn’t seen Tony and Bonni since last December (their last boarding school break). Our Sunday safari took Ted and I, the siblings and 2 other young men from the Project to the Thomas Barnardo Home. This orphanage is a 50 year old institution located near downtown Nairobi. It provides and cares for about 370 orphans.
Ted and I were really impressed not only with the staff we talked to but the whole setup.
This surprise reunion was touching (tears/hugs/ smiles and laughter). What a joy for us to see this young family together. We are reminded how important it is to keep this family and the other orphans who live in our project connected with people they love.
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Meeting David was also inspirational. He is pictured above on the right with Jollyrose (an Auntie who cares for Tony and Bonni and the other kids at the orphanage). David came to Barnardo at age 3. Seventeen years later we met him at the reception desk on a Sunday afternoon. He is studying aeronautical engineering and working on aircraft engines part time at Wilson airport across the road. Barnardo supports these young adults in a hostel for a year (pays their rent) while they transition into the working world. David’s modest salary pays for his other needs while he finishes his schooling.
David spent time with our teenagers (pictured here) talking about his experiences, schooling and his thoughts about the real world they can expect to encounter when they finish school. Dismus, also pictured here, is one of our orphans who completes his welding courses this year and will need to find a position for further on the job training. We could see that the discussion with David gave them all some new insights and perspectives.
It was an Inspirational day for all of us.
Some musings
As I wander around the Project, I often take pictures. Here a few I took last week.
We have budding artists, “little Brian” and Steve pictured here, painting the side of our cook house. You have seen Brian before. He lives with Steve in our hostel. Steve and his sweet little brother, Muli, lost both of their parents to HIV/ Aids within the past 24 months. We are working hard to ensure they feel welcome and loved and part of their new family.
Silas, pictured below on the left, at the gate to our Project, is a gem! His son, Boniface, is an A average Form 1 high school student. We took Boniface into the Project this year as he wouldn’t otherwise be in school. What fine young man he is, thanks in large part to Silas’ love, care and discipline. Silas also cares for his wife at home. She is mentally challenged. Everyday Silas walks 1 ½ hours to our Project and volunteers—he mans the gate and keeps an eye on the comings and going of the kids. I love this guy and we often talk.
“Mama Brian” pictured below on the right — looked so beautiful in the late afternoon sunlight. She is an HIV+ widow. She regularly helps with the kitchen and washing when she is feeling up to it. Her 3 sons, “Big Brian”, Christopher and Farris are all in the Project and are becoming fine responsible young men.
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One of the best things I have ever done
My name is Brenda Westcott and I am a retired teacher.
I lived in Kenya 20 years ago and my children completed most of their education here.
We returned to the U.K. where they both went to University.
I recently returned to Kenya when my daughter gave birth to my only grandchild so that I could be part of his life.
I do volunteer work with the children in the Hanne Howard Fund/ Lenana project and I have to say I feel privileged to be a part of the team that works there.
Everyday I count my blessings as I work with these wonderful children and see the progress they are making. Believe me I feel that they give me far more than I could ever give to them.
This is one of the best things I have ever done and I really enjoy it.
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Inspiring project
Dear Hanne and Ted:
I must share with you, having been involved with international aid work for over 15 years, visiting your project was an inspiration to me. It was so evident both of you are making a big difference in the lives of these children. Keep up the good work.
Gary Pluim
Executive Director
WaterCan
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2009 Kenya School Drama Festival
This festival is a yearly event in which all Schools from all over the country are encouraged to participate. It is a week long affair in March offering drama workshops for tutors and kids alike. This work shops are run by the best of the best and are always worthwhile to attend.
HHFL concurred that it was indeed a brilliant idea and agreed that I could attend the workshops and take our entire drama club, the HHFL PARROTS to the closing performance where the finalist enact their plays. Unfortunately, they were not able to attend the workshops due to conflict with their school schedule.
For the two days I attended alone I had the pleasure to watch brilliant plays with powerful messages, excellent narratives, fantastic verses and well choreographed dances. I got more and more excited and inspired. I could hardly wait for Saturday to come so I could take my drama club to witness these incredible performances.
That Saturday afternoon, the Parrots got the opportunity to watch a play by a boy’s school that was just out of this world, a very funny narrative by another school and an incredible dance performance (boys and girls) that received a standing ovation! We could hardly contain our excitement and the kids were overwhelmed as they never had witnessed anything like this.
Our troupe of 11 and I returned to Lenana regenerated, inspired and ready to take the community by storm with our new performances. We are all very busy writing and rehearsing our new plays which we hope to enact during the April holidays when all our boarders return home and we all spend a fantastic and amusing month together.
Such an improvement!!
I was introduced to Africa and the HHFL by my good friend, Marianne Florijn. My first visit was in November 2007. The project was in its second year and well on its way. I immediately fell in love with the ready smiles and happiness of these children and ever since I have been supporting this project.
In February, 2009 I returned to Nairobi, this time with my hubby Pim in tow. What a surprise awaiting us! Hanne had kept us informed of the changes and improvements that took effect in 2008. But I definitely was not prepared for the changes we encountered.
The entire project had relocated to a fenced in compound within the slum. A new kitchen and eating hall had been added. The hostel and all 26 orphans took up residence in this new place with new beds and bedding. A huge improvement over their last digs! The Tiny Tots Early Childhood Development Center, a happy and colorful school, is here too. The Tiny Tots have a big sandbox and a swing which they adore, but best of all is the field in the middle of the compound where the children enjoy themselves playing football, hockey, skipping rope or practicing their scout drills under the watchful eye of “Chelsea” Peter, their coach.
The art room is a very popular and busy place. Art Director, Duncan teaches the kids how to make drawings, pictures and all kinds of arts and crafts. Simon, a fantastic acrobat spends hours teaching the kids to fly through the air and land safely on their feet!
But most important, was feeling the happiness that these kids radiated. Volunteers and kids alike had a good time and always did their jobs in a very motivated way.
You cannot begin to imagine the good time that we had during our last day when we all attended the farewell party organized in our honor. The scouts proudly showed their skills and drills and raised the scout’s flag. The drama club presented a very original skit which made us all laugh and the little ones sung sweetly for us. Thank you very much again!
Dear Hanne and Ted, this project is really something to be very proud of and Pim and I enjoyed every single minute we spent in the slum with you and the kiddies. We can see and feel how rewarding this must be for you.
We know you are already busily preparing your next move, the piece of Shangri-la in the Ngong Forest, you showed us. We wish you luck and hope you will succeed in securing this plot of land. What a wonderful place this would be for the children! We feel confident that once this happens, you will find the support needed to develop this dream accordingly.
We wish you all the best and hope to come back next year! Asante sana! THANK YOU!
Love to all, Carolyne and Pim Lempers